The start of the post season for a very intense series which, from the last Wednesday of April with tap-off at 8.30pm in the Arena setting, will give the start to a very intense journey with a sure second stage on Sunday at 6pm in Lombardy and possible third on May 1st at 6pm again within friendly walls. Having concluded the regular season with a historic and sensational fourth place, La Molisana Magnolia Campobasso dives into what is the highlight of the season in the Techfind Serie A1 tournament: the playoffs that will lead to the awarding of the championship. For the rossoblù the meeting with Geas Sesto San Giovanni is expected (exclusive live streaming match on Lbftv, the pay platform of the Women’s Basket League), a match already staged three times in this championship tournament – the first leg at home of the Geassine with exploits of the rossoblù and on the return to Molise with a guest success – and in the decisive final of the play-in for the Final Four of the Italian Cup in January again at the Arena with smiles on the opposing side.
PRESENT TIME Thus, in a calendar year 2024 with an unfortunate double crossing with the Lombards for the steelflowers , the feelings of revenge and of undoing the ancient popular adage of ‘there are no twos without threes’ could appear as the first traveling companions for the magnolias. On this point, however, coach Sabatelli is very focused on current events and does not indulge in any type of flashback. «We must not think about what has happened – he said on the eve of the match – because we need to project ourselves onto this contest with the serenity of someone who is aware of having achieved a very important goal by obtaining this fourth place in the regular season and will do everything to continue dreaming in the certainty of being faced with a team of absolute value that will try in every way to create difficulties for us, regardless of the location”.
BACK TO BACK Moreover, as all the experts point out, the postseason always brings with it unique characteristics: first of all for the races at close temporal distance from each other and then, due to the fact that the single race is valid in itself without implications related to the final score differences. «The details will be crucial in this context – acknowledges Sabatelli – and there will be two teams facing each other who are used to weekly work cycles this season. The individual races will be a mix of many sensations, but with certainty, for our part, we will have to find the strength to make a memorable season so far simply unique.”
MATCH BY MATCH Specifically, as happened during the regular season, even more so in this series of quarterfinals for the trainer from Campobasso «it will be necessary to think from the perspective of match after match, putting a lot of serenity on the parquet and maintaining high concentration to try to continue our journey in the most effective way possible.”
PHYSICAL STATUS From their point of view, from a physical point of view, the Magnolias enter this journey towards the scudetto «fortunately in fairly good conditions. We have given life, since August, to eight months of hard work, but, with even greater strength and determination, we have the determination to give continuity to the path we have taken forward.”
BASIC BALANCE Data in hand, however, the series between Campobassane and Geassine (former team of Rossoblù Martina Kacerik) is probably the most balanced among the four in the quarterfinals. «There are two teams with important rosters facing us – agrees Sabatelli – who had the same record in the twenty-four games of the regular season and capable, at the same time, of making themselves heard both offensively and defensively». «They can count on many reference points in attack and, after Bestagno’s injury, they added the French winger Wadoux, which has expanded the number of their reference points in attack. They have deep rotations (including the Caroville native Gina Conti, ed.) a lot of talent on both short sides of the parquet and, in other words, they are a significant mountain to climb.” «It must also be considered, however, how – he adds – the playoff matches always represent a story in themselves both in terms of period and basic situations, as well as the value of the comparisons. Nonetheless, we are well aware of the situations in which we made mistakes in the last two matches and in any case we will take advantage of them to try to avoid them happening again and try to go further to do better.”
IN DEFENSE OF THE ARENA Aspects which at a tactical level will necessarily be expressed in the basic characteristics of the Campobasso group this season: that is, “strong defense and taking advantage of the possibility of going into the open field when there is the possibility”. Perhaps also counting heavily on the support of the friendly public: «We need the affection of our people and, certainly, having the advantage of the field factor can represent a precious support. This, when facing teams of a certain importance, represents one of those details that can certainly have an influence.”
Tags: Playoff Molisana Allianz Geas arrives game
